The storyteller behind The Book Thief

By Alyssa Allen

Australian author Markus Zusak says he never imagined that the novel he started writing in his twenties would be made into a blockbuster Hollywood film starring Geoffrey Rush. The Book Thief has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, telling the story of a young German girl's experience during World War II.

Markus drew on his parent's journey of growing up during the Nazi era as inspiration for the 580 page novel.

"My mum grew up outside of Munich and my dad comes from a town outside of Vienna, they actually met in Australia, they came here in the late 1950s."

"I was really lucky in that they were both really good storytellers. We're lucky to meet one or two good storytellers in our lives and I was lucky that the two people I was really close to... had these amazing stories but with the ability to tell them."

The film revolves around a young German girl, Liesel, who steals books during the war because they are precious to her.

"You don't realise how much sense that makes with the book burnings and everything and how Hitler was destroying people with words and propaganda."

"In a sense, Liesel is stealing the words back and writing her own story and hopefully it's a beautiful story written amongst that ugly, destructive world."

The 38 year old says despite the film depicting sad moments in history, he has tried to instil hope in his characters.

"I think a certain optimism has to come through in the writing that I do and that's who I am and you do end up writing yourself and from your own heart in anything you write I guess."